Convertible sofa-bed.



PATENTED OUT. 24, 1905.

W. I. ROLPH. CONVERTIBLE SOFA BED.

APPLICATION FILED DLTO.15, 1904 2 SHEBTS-SHIZET 1.

ANDREW u (mum co,

PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905.

W. T. ROLPH GDNVERTIBLE SOFA BED.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 15, 1904 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UTWTTE I VVILLTAM T. ROLPH, OF GENEVA, NEW YORK.

CONVERTIIBLIE SOFA-"BED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed December 15, 190 i. Serial No. 236,959.

To all 2072/0171, it 712/601 concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. Rowe, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Geneva, county of Ontario, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ConvertibleSofa- Beds. of which the following is a full and true specification.

The invention relates to improvements in convertible sofa-beds, the seatand back sections whereof are capable of relative angular movementwhereby they may be flattened to serve asa bed and also of bodilylateral movement upon their supporting-base; and the said improvementsconsist in the various features of construction and the relativearrangement and disposition of parts which will be hereinbelow fullydescribed, and more particularly pointed out in the accompanying claims.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, forming a part hereof,Figures 1, 9., and 3 are end elevations of a sofa-bed embodying featuresof this invention and showing the same in successive stages oftransformation from a sofa or couch to a bed. Fig. L is a frontelevation of one end of the device serving as a sofa. Fig. 5 isavertical transverse sectional view of Fig. 4 on the line 5 5. Fig. 6 isa detailed sectional view showing one form of track. Fig. 7 is a detailin elevation of the rear corner of the bedding-box or base, and Fig. 8is a detail of the truck with upright and rollers.

The reference-numeral 1 in the several figures representsa stationarybase formed of side and end boards and a bottom, constituting a beddingbox or receptacle in which the bedding may be stored when the apparatusis serving as a sofa. This base is shown in the drawings as arectangular box mounted on casters, whereby the device as a whole may'be moved about; but it is to be understood that the same is at alltimes a stationary base with respect to the operation of the seat andback sections, and does not require to be moved from the wall, if itshould be so placed, in order to permit such operation. The seatsectionand back-section 3 are each composed of rectangular frames of suflicientthickness or depth to contain the usual springs and other upholsteryappurtenances, and these frames are preferably, though not necessarily,equal in length to the length of the bedding-box, so that the exteriorend surfaces of the said three parts will occupy substantially the sameplanes at each end of the apparatus. At or near each end the sections 2and 3 are pivotally united by means of hinges 4, and these hinges areprovided with locking and releasing means whereby the two sections maybe maintained in fixed angular relation to constitute a sofa or may beswung relatively apart to serve as a bed. The locking means shown hereinis substantially identical with that disclosed in the patent of T. G.Weyer, No. 62 L596, May 9, 1899, and will not require furtherdescription than to say that it comprises a link 5, pivoted to onesection below the hinge-pin and engaging a pin 6 on the other, the saidlink being provided with a latch or dog 7, (shown in dotted lines inFig. 5,) whereby it holds the sections normally in fixed angularrelation, but upon a further movement of one section becomes releasedand permits them to be flattened apart. vention, however, is not to beunderstood as limited to the employment of the hinge above described,inasmuch as many other kinds of devices may also be used with equaleffect- The said sections are supported at the region of their pivotalaxis, preferably by the pivotpins of the hinges t, upon the uprights 8of suitable sliding or rolling truck-frames 9, disposed one at each endof the device (see Fig. 8) and mounted for lateral movement upon thebase or bedding-box. The frames are capable of various construction, butas shown herein are comprised of a laterally-extending base member 10,with the upright 8 rising centrally thereof, and an antifriction-roller11 upon either side of said upright. The rollers, however, are notessential, and sliding bearings may be substituted for them. Theuprights 8 are at least equal in length to the thickness of theupholstered seat-section, so that they will support the same free frombinding on the base member 1, and the dimensions of the base portion ofthe truck are such that there will be no tendency for the same to tiltor cramp when forced into movement upon their tracks by the meanspresently to be described. The ways or tracks upon which the said trucksare arranged to travel are disposed interiorly of the outer surfaces ofthe end boards of the bedding-box, so as to be concealed from view, andto this end they may be disposed on the floor of the box or on bracketswithin the same; but, as shown herein, the tracks are provided byinterior grooves or rabbets 12 on the said end boards, Fig. 6, andretaining means in the form of slotted plates This in- 13, closing theinner sides of said rabbets, are fastened thereto, whereby suitableprojections from said truck-framesc. the roller axles l4-may engage inthe said slots to hold the trucks at all times safely on the tracks; butother forms of retaining means holding the trucks on the tracks may beemployed with equal efl'ect.

Combined with the parts above described the apparatus is provided withmeans for constraining bodilylateral movement of the pivotally-unitedsections on the box when said sections are swung together in lockedangular relation. This means comprises a throw-bar 15 at each end of theapparatus and disposed interiorly of the outer faces of the end piecesof the same. The throw-bar, which is a onepiece rigid lever, is hingedto a bracket 16 on the base and is pivotally attached to the backsection3 within the recess or slot 17 therein. When the forward edge of theseat-section is raised, the hinge being locked, the two sections areswung together on their pivotal axis, the throw-bars are swungforwardly, and force the trucks also forwardly upon their respectivetracks. This carries the two sections to the position shown in Fig. 2,in which it will be observed that the throw-bars 15 have entered a slotor groove 18, provided in the end board of the base 1 for this purpose.A slight backward movement of the seat-section serves to automaticallyrelease thehinge-locking means, and the said section may then be loweredto a horizontal position, as indicated in Fig. 3. In so doing a leg 20,hitherto maintained in concealed position under the seat, is moveddownwardly into vertical position by means of the link 21, which latteris connected to the back-section at a point 25. The reverse operation iseifected by raising the seatsection to vertical position, whereupon itantomatically looks with the back-section, and then depressing it, whichforces the throwbars 15 backwardly and retracts the trucks to theirformer position, as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the operating mechanism isentirely contained within the frames of the sections and base, whichdisposes of the necessity of covering the ends with ornamental panels,arm-pieces, or the like, or if such parts are desired they may befastened directly to the said sections in simple and economical manner.The hinges and parts are of course intended to be concealed by theupholstery. (Not shown in the drawings.) The front wall of thebeddingbox is open on its forward side to leave the interior thereofconveniently accessible for the insertion of the bedding or otherarticles, and a depending wall 23 on the seat-section 2 forms a closurefor this opening when the device is serving as a couch.

Having described my invention, what 1 claim, and desire to secure byUnited States Letters Patent, is-

1. In a convertible sofa-bed, a stationary bedding-box forming asupporting-base, pivotally-united seat and back sections supportedthereon and means for holding said sections locked the one to the otherwhereby they may be maintained in fixed angular relation as a sofa, incombination with a rigid throw-bar connected at one end to saidstationary bedding-box and at the other to one-of said sections, forconstraining bodily lateral movement of the locked sections upon saidbeddingboX when swung together thereon.

2. In a convertible sofa-bed, a stationary bedding-box, pivotally-unitedseat and back sections mounted thereon and provided with means wherebythey may be maintained in angular relation to be swung together thereon,

and means for constraining lateral movement of sa1d sections on the boxwhen thus swung, in combination with supporting-trucks interposedbetween said box and the pivotal axis of said sections, comprisinguprights and laterally-extending base portions.

3. In a convertible sofa-bed, a stationary bedding-box forming a base,pivotally-united seat and back sections thereon, and truckframesconnected to said sections at their pivotalaxis and interposed betweenthe same and said box, said truck-frames being each coniprised of avertical upright and a laterallyextending base portion provided withantifriction-rollers on opposite sides of said upright. M

a. In a convertible sofa-bed, a stationary bedding-box forming a base,pivotally-united seat and back sections thereon and means formaintaining them in angular relation, in combination with truck-framesmounted for lateral movement on said bedding-box, and provided withuprights supporting said sections at their pivotal axis.

5. In a convertible sofa-bed, a stationary base, pivotally-unitedupholstered seat and back sections thereon and means for maintaining thesame in angular relation, in combination with a truck-frame at each endof said united sections mounted for lateral movement on said stationarybase and having uprights supporting said sections at their pivotal axis,said uprights being at least equal in length to the thickness of saidupholstered sections.

6. In a convertible sofabed,.a stationary bedding-box andpivotally-united upholstered seat and back sections thereon, incombination with truck-frames mounted for lateral movement on saidbedding-box having uprights supporting said sections at their pivotalaxis, which uprights are equal in length to the thickness of saidupholstered sections.

7. In a convertible sofa-bed, a stationary bedding-box forming a base,pivotally-united seat and back sections and means for holding themlocked to swing together in the angular relation of a sofa, incombination with trucks at the ends of said sections supporting the sameby their pivotal axis, whereby said locked sections may swing togetherwith respect to said trucks, the said trucks being mounted to travel onthe end boards of the said stationary bedding-box.

8. In a convertible sofa-bed, a stationary bedding-box, pivotally-unitedseat and back sections thereon and means for constraining bodily lateralmovement of said sections when the seat is swung relatively to said box,in combination with a depending wall on said seat-section. forming avertical closure to said bedding-box, when the device is serving as acouch.

9. In a convertible sofa-bed, a stationary bedding-box andpivotally-united seat and back sections supported for lateral movementon said box on parts within the exterior of the end boards thereof.

10. In a convertible sofa-bed, pivotallyunited seat and back sections,and trucks supporting the same, in combination with a stationarybedding-box supporting said trucks and provided with tracks disposed onthe inside of the box for said trucks to travel upon.

11. In a convertible sofa-bed, pivotallyunited seat and back sectionsand trucks supporting the same at their pivotal axis, a stationarybedding-box supporting said trucks and provided with tracks for the sameto travel upon, and retaining means adjacent to said track, incombination with horizontal projections on said trucks engaging saidretaining gieans to hold the trucks upon the bedding- 12. In aconvertible sofa-bed, pivotallyunited seat and back sections and truckssupporting the same, a stationary bedding-box provided with end boards,tracks formed on said end boards supporting said trucks, and means formaintaining said sections in angular relation and for releasing thesame.

13. In a convertible sofa-bed, pivotallyunited seat and back sections,means for holding the same in fixed angular relation with respect toeach other, and trucks supporting said sections in the region of theirpivotal axis, in combination with a stationary bedding-box forming abase and supporting said trucks, and tracks located interiorly of theouter end boards of said box for said. trucks to travel upon.

14. In a convertible sofa-bed, pivotallyunited seat and back sectionsand trucks supporting the same, a stationary bedding-box provided withend boards and interior rabbets on said boards forming tracks for saidtrucks, in combination with plates closing the inner sides of saidrabbets and projections on said trucks engaging slots in the plates.

15. In a convertible sofa-bed, pivotallyunited seat and back sections,and means for maintaining them in angular relation, trucks supportingsaid sections, in combination with a stationary bedding-box havingtracks on the inside thereof for said trucks to travel upon, incombination with means disposed interiorly of the outer ends of saidsections and bedding-box for constraining a bodily lateral movement ofthe trucks and pivotally-united sections when swung together.

16. In a convertible sofa-bed, pivotallyunited seat and back sectionsand a stationary bedding-box, the end boards of said sections andbedding-box being disposed in substantially the same planes at each end,in combination with means disposed interiorly of the outer faces of saidend boards for permitting and guiding bodily lateral movement of thepivotally-united sections upon the beddingbox, and means also disposedinteriorly 01 said outer end faces for constraining such bodily movementas the sections are manipulated together.

17. In a convertible sofa-bed, a stationary bedding-box, andpivotally-united seat and back sections supported thereon i'or bodilylateral movement, in combination with a throw-bar connected to saidbedding-box and to the back-section and disposed to be concealed withinslots formed in the end boards thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to the specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

W'ILLIAM T. ROLIH.

l/Vitnesses:

GEORGE M. B. IIAWLEY, M. S. SABINE.

